UNKNOWN ARABIA

Hokitika Guardian, 22 August 1930, Page 7

UNKNOWN ARABIA

VENTURE INTO OCEAN OF SAND DUNES.

A remarkable accomplishment was described by Sir Arnold Wilson at a meeting, of the Royal Geographical Society. It was the penetration last January by Captain B. S. Thomas into the centre of ‘‘Ruba al Khali,” as the great uncrossed desert in Southern Arabia is called. No white man before Captain Thomas has done more than look upon the fringe of Ruba al. Khali; and by the Arabs themselves it is always spoken of with dread and often, regarded as jinn-infested. ,-Captain . Thomas, who is financial adviser to the Sultan of Muscat and Oman, and is as a consequence of having lived for some six years in one of'the hottest parts of the world Well equipped physically for the exploration of deserts, started at the beginning of this year on the project Upon which-he has set his heart .He began at the southern coust of Dhu'far, and travelled with an escort of some thirty Arabs northwards up 'through the ■ famous frankincense country of ancient Arabia and lip beyond the Qara Mountains, . Having reached the sandy steppe he naturally found waterholes extremely scarce. But the factor that finally made .him relinquish his original plan of conquering the great desert was that the " mountain-bred camels on which his party travelled were utterly useless in the loose, billowing sand dunes of. the inner desert.

FORCED TO TURN BACK. . It was a dramatic moment when Captain Thomas reached tlie nothern.most'.point of his journey—20th degree latitude—and knew that he had to turn back or perish. To the north and west of .him was an ocean of red sand dunes, shaped by the wind with exquisite precision. Some of -these tiers of sand were so steepsioped that lie had to dismount and help the camel down. Tlie discoveries made by Capita-in Thomas were rather scientific than sensational. First of all, of course, were his geographical discoveries. He has made it possible to fill in' a considerable section of the map hitherto blank. He further .collected many mammals, birds, insects, and reptiles, some geological specimens, and a skull found in a rock tomb. He also has drawn up a list invaluable to possible future explorers. It would appear that this young Arabist still dreams of actually conquering the Ruba al Khali. His passion for. exploring is insatiable. Two years ago lie performed a remarkable journey along tlie south-eastern bor-der-lands of Ruba al Khali during which he made the discovery, which set storms raging in circles of Arabists, of (as he maintains) non-Arab